The eight-day event, held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith, started on Sunday and has attracted top rowers from Australia and across the world.

Farley is the first member of Champion Lakes Boating Club to travel interstate and compete in a national championship.

Despite narrowly missing out on the State team this year, she was still invited to compete as an individual and will race in the under-21 women’s single, double and quadruple sculls events.

Speaking to the Comment News before she headed of to the competition last week, Farley said she was ‘excited’ about the event and hoped to row 2km in under seven minutes and 50 seconds, her personal best.

‘Next year I want to make it into the WA State team and then see where else I can go with it in the future: hopefully the national team,’ she said.

To prepare, she has been getting up at 5.30am six days a week to train on the water, which she juggles with studying physiotherapy at Curtin University and working part- time.

Farley became involved in rowing three years ago through Kelmscott Senior High School’s rowing program.

After she finished school last year, she continued training at Champion Lakes Boating Club and club coaches helped her to excel.

Rowing captain Daniel Foucar said rowing is a demanding endurance sport, which involves every muscle in the body.

‘She’s not only got the talent, but she has the commitment and discipline you need to have in rowing,’ he said.

‘She can definitely take it further.’

The Sydney International Rowing Regatta includes the King’s and Queen’s Cups Interstate Regatta, the Australian Open Schools Rowing Championships and World Rowing Cup 1.

Some of the world’s best rowers, including Australia’s Kim Crow, a 2012 London Olympic Games silver and bronze medallist and 2013 world champion, will compete.